Here are the pics I promised of my M38 carbine. Bolt is tight closing on each round although cycles the ammo fully. Appears to be counterbored although rifling comes all the way to the end of barrel. The stock has two cross members. One in front of bolt one behind bolt. Matching numbers on barrel bolt mag plate and butt plate. Crossed off numbers on the mag plate and restamped. Rifling is G-VG. Good because it is a touch thin yet flows all the way through and VG because rifling is real shiney with no rust no pitting. Have not fired the gun yet. Can someone comment on the double cross member behind the bolt. I have never seen a MN of any kind set up like this. Mgfrd
My $250 Russian 1943 Izzy M38 Carbine
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...yeah...if counterbored you WON'T see ANY rifling at the muzzle...as ij70 showed you in his photo, there is NO rifling at the muzzle when it has been counterbored...
...and, most purist collectors wince at the term 'Izzy'...it's Izhevsk...plain and simple...
...Enjoy your new carbine!!...
...and, most purist collectors wince at the term 'Izzy'...it's Izhevsk...plain and simple...
...Enjoy your new carbine!!...
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mgfrd:
Congrats on your new rifle. It looks like a nice example of the 1938 carbine. The rear stock bolt was presumably added as a preventative method to prevent damage to the stock upon firing. Is there any evidence of cracking or set-back of the barreled action that would prompt such repair? This "repair" appears on some, but not many of the re-arsenaled Mosin rifles and carbines. It adds nothing of value, but it's not a major flaw either.
I have always believed that the M38 carbine is the red-headed stepchild of the Mosin family. It doesn't seem to command the respect that it should. Someday when its scarcity is more accurately perceived, it will be more actively sought by Mosin collectors.
Congrats on your new rifle. It looks like a nice example of the 1938 carbine. The rear stock bolt was presumably added as a preventative method to prevent damage to the stock upon firing. Is there any evidence of cracking or set-back of the barreled action that would prompt such repair? This "repair" appears on some, but not many of the re-arsenaled Mosin rifles and carbines. It adds nothing of value, but it's not a major flaw either.
I have always believed that the M38 carbine is the red-headed stepchild of the Mosin family. It doesn't seem to command the respect that it should. Someday when its scarcity is more accurately perceived, it will be more actively sought by Mosin collectors.
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Most M38s are counterbored to correct muzzle damage.
This damage in M38s is usually not associated with shot-out barrels, but with dings and muzzle bumps from transport in vehicles and a rough life on the backs of field artillery, cavalry and a bunch of truck drivers and such, the personnel who were issued the carbines instead of the 91/30s.
I have a refurb M38 that seems to have been hardly fired, bore-wise, but is counterbored. It shoots great and would make a perfect hunting rifle as well.
Also, many M38s were reissued after refurb in later M44 stocks, easily detected by the bayonet slot for the folding bayonet cut into the stock's right side.
Some M38 stocks were hand-chiselled to take M44s with bayonets if needed, but put back on M38s, an interesting thing to find as the bayonet slot looked chiselled instead of smoothly milled down in the groove.
This damage in M38s is usually not associated with shot-out barrels, but with dings and muzzle bumps from transport in vehicles and a rough life on the backs of field artillery, cavalry and a bunch of truck drivers and such, the personnel who were issued the carbines instead of the 91/30s.
I have a refurb M38 that seems to have been hardly fired, bore-wise, but is counterbored. It shoots great and would make a perfect hunting rifle as well.
Also, many M38s were reissued after refurb in later M44 stocks, easily detected by the bayonet slot for the folding bayonet cut into the stock's right side.
Some M38 stocks were hand-chiselled to take M44s with bayonets if needed, but put back on M38s, an interesting thing to find as the bayonet slot looked chiselled instead of smoothly milled down in the groove.
Thanks for the great input
My stock has the slot on the upper right side for the bayonet. Must be a M44 stock. I cannot find any repair work or damage in the immediate area of the rear recoil lug. I was under the impression the rear lug was for the laminated wood stocks and mine is not laminated. There is a heal splice on the lower butt stock. Sorry for the term izzy. 250.00 is the most I have paid for any Nagant in ten years yet I think I did well considering these may possibly only go up in value over the next few years. Thanks again to the MN forum gang and I am at ten years of being online at MN.net at this point in time. Mgfrd
My stock has the slot on the upper right side for the bayonet. Must be a M44 stock. I cannot find any repair work or damage in the immediate area of the rear recoil lug. I was under the impression the rear lug was for the laminated wood stocks and mine is not laminated. There is a heal splice on the lower butt stock. Sorry for the term izzy. 250.00 is the most I have paid for any Nagant in ten years yet I think I did well considering these may possibly only go up in value over the next few years. Thanks again to the MN forum gang and I am at ten years of being online at MN.net at this point in time. Mgfrd
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$250 for a decent M38 is not at all too much out here -almost impossible to find anymore. The heel splice is, of course, how it was made and not a repair. The M44 stocks, as i said, are usual on refurb M38s.
To Stalins Ghost
Can you elaborate on the heel splice. I was always under the impression the splice was a repair. Was that a later Mfg process to utilize all available materials to maximize efficiencies. I think I read something to that effect on the M38 section of this website. Thanks Mgfrd
Can you elaborate on the heel splice. I was always under the impression the splice was a repair. Was that a later Mfg process to utilize all available materials to maximize efficiencies. I think I read something to that effect on the M38 section of this website. Thanks Mgfrd
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Most toe (not heel) splices are original from the factory as SG stated. Here is an example of one I suspect was a repair due to the difference in stain.
Very few M38 stocks sport toe splices inferring that they were not common until M44 production was well under way.
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....the ONLY m38 I have ever seen out here in CA was completely NON-matching...and, they wanted $350 for it...firm!!...
...walked away several times over the past year...last time I went in someone had picked it up...$350 still seems WAY steep to me, but who knows?...
...walked away several times over the past year...last time I went in someone had picked it up...$350 still seems WAY steep to me, but who knows?...
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